Reducing TCO Through the Web

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Reducing TCO Through the Web

• How Edinboro University leverages web-based
  utilities to reduce the demand on technical staff.

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Building Blocks

• Windows Domain Authentication
• Internet Information Services/ASP/SQL
• Internet Explorer
• An Information Foundation

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Domain Authentication

• Web page logins are simplistic, customized
  content easily leveraged
• Many utilities are only functional if the
  technical staff has administrative rights on the
  client stations

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IIS/ASP and SQL Server

• IIS allows easy integration of the domain
  authentication
• Active Server Pages provide an easy-to-maintain
  starting point for web applications.
• SQL Server is our platform of choice, and again
  aids in the use of domain authentication.

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Internet Explorer

• External Pages Cross-browser
• Internal Pages Pick one!
• Extensibility/stability of IE over Netscape 4

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Information Foundation

• Personnel Information
• Basic
• Username
• First
• Last
• Descriptive
• Address
• Contact Info

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Information Foundation

• User-Updatable fields (Advanced)
• Nickname
• Office Hours
• Alternate Contact

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The Applications

• University Directory Search/UDSReslove
• CallTrack
• Long Distance Authorization ID Lookup
• TACUpdate
• Training/Events Registration System
• In Development Web Presence System
• In Design CallTrack II and WebBackup

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University Directory Search

• External and Internal Focus
• Provides search capability on all fields
• Reduced information for external users
• (unless authenticated)
• Leverages our text-source personnel info
• Accessible from our home page

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UDSResolve

• Leverages the search capabilities of the
  University Directory Search database in web pages
• VBScript Class allows easy use of lookup info
• UDSR.GetUserInfo(username)
• UDSR.LastName
• UDSR.FullName()

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CallTrack

• Made up of
• Over 80 html asp files
• A variety of supporting Java PerlScripts
• Several dozen tables in SQL Server
• Primarily used by
• Help Desk Operators
• Duty Analysts/Technical Staff
• Weak on modularity

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Long Distance ID

• Implementation of an internal PBX
• All staff, faculty students could make LDs
• Identified and billed based on code, not ext.
• Introduced yet another password ?
• LDA Lookup
• Log in using standard username Password
• Database ties username LD ID together
• Web Page returns a printable card w/inst.

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TACUpdate

• Maintains a variety of troubleshooting and
  network inventory information
• IP Data and Nodename are updated at every login
• Additional info processed on a schedule
  determined by each module
• In design including WMI data

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TACUpdate

• Modularized into components
• Main TACUpdate functions
• Module Management
• Parse Login file
• Validate against live system does updates
• Queue Management
• Enhanced/Add-on Modules
• Security Updates
• Sophos
• DNS Updates

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TACUpdate

• Information is fed at each domain login
• IPCONFIG/ALL output written to file
• Server uses regular expressions to parse
• Data is stored in SQL Server
• IP Address, Hardware Address, Gateway
• WINS, DNS, Type Description

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TACUpdate

• Modules are then executed, each determines if
  processing is necessary
• Security Update
• New Local Administrator Password as needed
• Checks registries for illegal software
• Various other security checks
• Sophos
• Verify Anti-Virus software is installed and
  running
• DNS
• Temporary modules to change DNS entries on the
  systems (Win 2000 migration)

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TACUpdate

• Tracks Logins/Primary Users
• Local Accounts
• Local Administrator Group Membership
• Granting Temporary Local Admin Rights

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Training/Events Registration

• Lists training sessions, schedule and
  descriptions
• Authenticated users can
• Sign up for a session with open seats
• Overbook for a session that is at capacity
• Cancel registrations (will automatically register
  1st overbooked party notify them)
• Schedule others if they have the appropriate
  privileges

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Training/Events Registration

• Registrants are requested to provide a
  pre-session assessment
• People registered/canceled by a 3rd party are
  notified via e-mail
• Administrator has the ability to notify all
  attendees (reminder) with a single click
• In Design Post-session assessment

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Web Presence System

• Will provide a homepage for all staff faculty
• Provides basic contact info (UDSResolve)
• Provides area for additional contact info
• Provides area for office hours
• Provides area for course listings (faculty)
• Provides area for links

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Web Presence System

• All items are dynamic no static HTML
• Owners will be able to update info via the web
  without HTML knowledge
• Course Pages also under development for basic
  syllabus creation or attachment

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CallTrack II

• Major rewrite to focus on modularity, integration
  of requested functions
• Improved authentication of users
• Dynamic forms for different call types
• Routing suggestions based on call type
• More streamlined process for creating calls
• Greater integration of Master/Sub calls
• Greater integration with TACUpdate, Inventory

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WebBackup

• Recent request from management
• Investigating the ability to provide a webpage
  which will allow users to backup all files of
  specified types (i.e. Word documents, Access
  Databases, etc.) on their system prior to a
  reinstallation
• Backup could potentially be written to CD then
  returned to user with system for them to restore.

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For Additional Information

• For additional information, please contact
• Jonathan Blaine
• jblaine_at_edinboro.edu
• [phone]